3 July, Potsdam: The Kaiser makes his views known. On reading Tschirschky’s first report that he has advised the leaders in Vienna “against too hasty steps” the Kaiser makes the irate marginal note:
“Who authorised him to do so? That is utterly stupid! It is not his business, since it is entirely Austria’s affair, what she intends to do. Later on, if things went wrong, it would be said Germany was not willing! Will Tschirschky have the goodness to drop this nonsense! The Serbs need to be sorted out, and soon”.
The Kaiser dismisses Tschirschky’s suggestion Vienna ought to consider the wider European situation as “commonplace sentiments”.